Philosphy Flashcards
Rationalism
The view that the primary source of knowledge is reason
Empiricism
The idea that observations via our senses leads us to understanding of the world
Reason
Using logical thought in order to reach conclusions
A-priori Knowldege
Knowledge which is not dependant on experience can be known prior to experience
A-priori Knowldege example
Triangles have three sides
A-posteriori knowledge
Knowledge which is dependent on sense experience, can only be known after sense experience I.e it must be investigated
A-posteriori knowledge Example
I know the Sun will set this evening because it always has.
Plato
Great Greek Philosp
Plato’s understanding of reality
Plato believed that there was a greater reality beyond the world we experience
He believed A-PRIORI REASONING was the key to unlocking the reality.
Forms
The name Plato gives to ideal concepts that exist in reality
Plato’s theory of the Forms (World of the Forms)
In the real World
Each Form is one single thing
They are known by the intellect or reason
They are eternal
They are non-physical
They are unchanging
They are perfect
Particulars
The name Plato gives to the objects in the EMPIRICAL WORLD (our world) which are imperfect copies of Forms
The Form of the Good
The ULTIMATE FORM according to Plato.
The perfection and unchanging state of Forms come from THE FORM OF THE GOOD.
Forms/ Particulars Relationship
Particulars are the objects in our world
They are the IMPERFECT IMITATIONS of the FORMS
They are constantly changing
And are Physical
Aristotle
Student of Plato
Great Greek Philosopher
Aristotle understanding of reality
Aristotle believed the world him around was the real world unlike Plato.
He used EMPIRICAL methods and A-POSTERIORI KNOWLEDGE to prove this
Potentiality
A possibility or capacity to be something
Actuality
Potential being achieved
The theory of Causation [The Four Causes] Aristotle
Aristotle believed there were four causes that caused the motion of potentiality to actuality
Material Cause
The thing /substance it is made of
Material Cause Example
The bronze of a statue
Formal Cause
The structure/form or shape of the object
Formal Cause example
Spreadsheet plan for a building
Efficient Cause
The “mover”/“maker” which has actualised the object or brought it about
Efficient Cause Example
Builder for a House
Final Cause
The aim or purpose of the object
Final Cause example
A car is to drive
Telos
The purpose
The idea everything has a purpose
Importance of the four Causes to Aristotle
Illustrates the world is the real world and the task of philosophers is to explain it
The key to knowledge is through empirical method
The world and all that is in it has a purpose ‘telos’
Prime Mover Theory Aristotle
Aristotle believed that everything in the world is changing but that the Prime Mover causes all the change in the world
Characteristics of the Prime Mover
Immutable- It does not Change
It is ETERNAL as BEGINNING TO EXIST or CEASE TO EXIST would imply change
Prime Mover is PERFECT as it has COMPLETE ACTUALITY and BECOMING or LOSING PERFECTION is CHANGE
Prime Mover Is IMPASSIVE meaning it FEELS NO EMOTION as experiencing emotion would be a CHANGE of INNER STATE
Prime Mover Non-Physical Aristotle
Aristotle argued that all physical objects are subject to change due to being made of matter he argued that Prime Mover must be NON-PHYSICAL
Prime Mover and the world
Prime Mover UNAWARE of the World.
As it can only think of perfect things to be perfect
Therefore it must only think about itself
The Prime Mover causes change through ATTRACTING ALL THINGS IN THE UNIVERSE -(they ALL DESIRE GOOD/PERFECTION)
Prime Mover/ God Similarities
Aristotle refers to Prime Mover as God but not DEISTIC God (religious)
The only similarities they have is ETERNAL PEFECT THE FIRST CAUSE
Evaluation of Theory of Causation weaknesses
Aristotle claim that everything has purpose is SUBJECTIVE
Purpose of Objects may depend on your POINT IF VIEW
EXISTENTIALISTS would argue that humans have no PURPOSE they would argue that HUMANS EXISTENCE is a matter of chance
Evaluation of Theory of Causation Strengths
Has the Strengths of Empirical Methods
There is an ELEMENT GOWN COMMON SENSE in the Four Causes
The Four Causes focus on purpose and this gives us a way of determining whether or not something is good or not
Assessing Prime Mover Aristotle Strengths
It’s is more DIFFICULT TO believe in a God who is perfect if that being has changing emotions.. An IMPASSIVE Prime Mover seems more LOGICAL
It avoids the TRADITIONAL PROBLEM OF EVIL
Assessing Plato’s World of Forms Strengths
It can be used to support belief in ABSOLUTE UNCHANGING MORAL RULES. It is the ideal standard of property .
Plato argues that humans have an INNATE ABILITY to recognise the FORMS that our SOULS knew before birth. It enabled us to recognise ONE over MANY
Assessing Plato’s World of Forms Weaknesses
The Forms commit INFINITE REGRESS- if Plato argued that the Forms explain what objects have in common, what is stopping us from raising question what do the FORMS and PARTICULARS have in common which would REQUIRE a THIRD MAN
Plato’s belief in UNCHANGING WORLD
means new INVENTIONS and things EXTINCT would COEXIST in the WORLD OF THE FORMS
Philosopher Wittgenstein- PLATO claims there is ONE OVER MANY. He argued that there is instead a SERIES of OVERLAPPING CHARACTERISTICS
If there is a FORM for every NUMBER then there is an INFINITE NUMBER OF FORMS
Contrasts Between Plato and Aristotle -Rationalism/Empiriscim
Plato favours use of REASON and A-PRIORI KNOWLEDGE over EMPIRICISM. He believed that our SOULS contained INNATE knowledge on THE FORMS
PHILOSOPHICAL TRUTHS know through A-PRIORI
Aristotle favoured use of SENSES (EMPIRICISM) over REASON. Does NOT BELIVE in INNATE IDEAS
PHILOSOPHICAL TRUTHS squired through EMPIRICAL METHID USING OUR SENSES
The Prime Mover/The Form of the Good Similarities
Both are Necessary beings ;eternal
Both to some extent responsible for the EXISTENCE OF THINGS in the world
Both are influential to the Christian idea of God
The Prime Mover/The Form of the Good Differences
The Prime Mover has a conscious
The Form of the Good is not conscious it is an idea
Plato’s Cave analogy
Group of PRISONERS chained in a CAVE since birth.
Can only see their SHADOW projected on the wall
They believe the shadows are all that exists
However if one prisoner was released and went outside the cave his sight would adjust and realise what the REAL OUTSIDE WORLD IS
The cave is a SHADOW WORLD
If the Prisoner returned to PASSON THE KNOWLEDGE
He would not be BELIEVED
Plato’s Cave analogy Meaning PART 1
The prisoners-ORDINARY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD
the cave-Empirical World ( Our World)
The chains - the SENSES THAT RESTRICT THE WAY WE EXPERIENCE THINGS
The shadows- Our EVERYDAY SENSE EXPERIENCES
the escapee(prisoner released)- PHILOSOPHER ABLE TO ACESS KNOWLEDGE
the difficult ascent- ILLUSTRATION THAT THE ROAD TO PHILOSOPHICAL KNOWLEDGE IS HARD
the outside world- THE REAL WORLD ‘WORLD OF THE FORMS’
Plato’s Cave analogy Meaning Part 2
The sun- THE HIGHEST OF ALL FORM THE FORM OF THE GOOD
The return to the cave - THE PHILOSOPHER ONCE ENLIGHTENED FEELS IT IS HIS DUTY to EDUCATE OTHERS
The difficulty adjusting to darkness- ONCE PHILOSOPHER HAS THE TRUTH/KNOWLEDGE IT IS HARD TO EXPERIENCE THINGS LIKE AN ORDINARY PERSON
the persecution given by the others prisoners- SOCRACTES EXECUTED BY LEADERS IN ATHENS FOR HIS TEACGINGS
